DKV Hopes To Continue Roll Against BC Kyiv

DKV Joventut have been on an impressive role, but nothing will come easy tonight when they take on BC Kyiv in the club´s home city.

DKV have made their way into the Final Four following convincing quarter-final play-off victories over Lokomotiv Rostov by 29 and 34 points.

Seven of the team´s last eight EuroCup games have been victories by double-digits and the Spanish club has won 11 of 14 overall for the season.

Tonight will be a great challenge against a team hosting the Final Four, yet DKV remain optimistic.

"Of course they (Kyiv) are very strong while playing at home, but if we sacrifice ourselves and fight for every ball, we can beat them although we know it's possible we can lose," said DKV forward Alex Mumbru.

"In this game, I think they will be very motivated. One of Kyiv's strengths is their interior play but they can also be very good on the perimeter. They play as a team and each player knows his role."

"Step by step we have improved, meeting objectives in different competitions and I consider the game in the Ukraine another step for Joventut returning to be a team that fights at the highest level in every competition," added head coach Aito Garcia.

DKV has been led offensively by Rudy Fernandez, an accomplished Spanish international with Olympic experience who is making his first Final Four appearance.

"It's going to be a very hard game considering we play on the road against a very solid side," Fernandez said.

"We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground knowing that we have a chance to go all the way. This a highly competitive tournament and we want to win it."

Kyiv, after making it to the final last year, had their work cut of for them this season on their way to the Final Four.

"This year we had very strong opponents," said Kyiv top-scorer LaMarr Greer.

"But despite a number of injuries we were able to come first in the group of death. We were in a bad situation in Round II. But even then I was confident of our success."

In the run up to the biggest weekend of the season, injuries have again struck with Kresimir Loncar, Oleg Saltovets and Artem Butskyy all affected.

Loncar and Saltovets are both expected to play against Joventut.

Joventut was also affected by injury as big man Aloysius Anagonye broke his fibula in an ACB game on March 26th and will not be available for coach Aito Garcia. In addition, 16-year old sensation Ricard Rubio did not make the trip to Kyiv due to an ankle injury.